27 die in Chennai, India, building collapse

CHENNAI, India, July 1 (UPI) -- The death toll has reached 27 people in the collapse of an under-construction building near Chennai, India.

Two people were found alive Tuesday after they were buried for 40 hours, and rescuers continue to search for survivors.

The 11-story building on the outskirts of the southern Tamil Nadu state capital, formerly known as Madras, had 72 construction workers inside when it collapsed Saturday, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said when she visited the site. She added, "It appears they have not adhered to approved plans. The building appears to have serious structural defects."

A police officer speculated clearing the debris to find more survivors could take three more days.
Building collapses occur with alarming frequency in India. A residential building in the coastal resort state of Goa collapsed earlier this year, killing 14 people. Fifty died in September 2013 when a four-story building fell in Mumbai.

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